Outside the Phillip Burton Federal Building on April, 13, under the statewide shelter-in-place order. Photo: Jason Doiy/ALM

A federal court in California has extended its orders restricting court access to the public and postponing trials until June 1.

All four locations for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California will remain open only to authorized people conducting official court business, according to two general orders signed by Chief Judge Phyllis Hamilton on Thursday.

The orders come after six San Francisco Bay Area counties extended their shelter in place orders through May 31.

Civil and criminal jury trials will also be postponed until June 1, as a result of the court's "reduced ability to obtain an adequate spectrum of jurors and the effect of the above public health recommendations on the availability of counsel and court staff to be present," according to the orders. Civil matters will continue to be decided on the papers or through remote hearings when necessary.

Although members of the press and public "who have a legitimate need to observe a public in-person court hearing that cannot be observed by telephone or videoconference" can attend hearings, Hamilton issued a warning to non-parties entering the court.

"Courtroom spectators are reminded that a shelter-in-place has been ordered throughout the state of California, and that there are health and safety risks associated with attending an in-person court hearing," she wrote.

Hamilton's guidance follows Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye's statewide order Wednesday that allowed criminal trials that were statutorily required to kick off by June 15 to begin Sept. 13, in recognition of courts' "high-risk" environment during the pandemic.

The district originally restricted access to its courts March 17, the same day six Bay Area counties demanded residents "shelter in place" to slow the spread of coronavirus.